KILLINAN END - Adjusting to hurling's new reality

The ultimate outcomes of the round-robin groups in the provinces have raised many issues around perceived unfairness.

Limerick play in a Munster Final having won just two games while Galway exit the championship with the same record. Wexford play in Leinster Final having won just one match while Clare exit having won two. Lies, damned lies, and statistics of course; it might also be pointed out that Wexford are also the only undefeated team in their province so one could hardly begrudge them participation on Leinster’s big day.

Part of the process of the new system is readjusting expectations. Let’s say Limerick lose the Munster Final to Tipp – you could then have a situation where the defending All-Ireland champions would be heading for a quarter-final having lost three of their five matches in Munster. Of course, the system is the system and a team could even lose three games out of four during the round-robin and still progress if other results conspired the right way. Likewise there is a realistic chance that Wexford will head into the All-Ireland series having won just one game from five.

 

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